Switching device for gas-generators.



N0. 633,168. Patented Sept. 19, I899. H. STRACHE. SWITCHING DEVICE FOR GAS GENERATORS.

. (Application filed Mar. 17, 1899.)

(No Model.)

FIG.

WITNESSES. dzzmu ATTORNEYS UNITED STATES- PATENT OFFICE.

nnco STRAOHE, or VIENNA, AUSTRIA-HUNGARY, ASSIGNOR TO THE sooIErE INTERNATIONALE DU GAZ DEAU, BREVETS STRAOI-IE, SooIE'rE ANONYME, OF BRUSSELS, BELGIUM.

SWITCHING DEVICE FOR GAS-GENERATORS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 633,168, dated September 19, 1899. Application filed March 1'7, 1899. Serial No. 709,510- (No model.)

To alt whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, HUGO STRAOHE, chemist, of Alserstrasse 49, Vienna VIII, Austria- Hungary, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Switching Devices for Wind and Gas in Water-Gas Generators, of which the following is a description.

In the working of water-gas generators it is known that air is blown into these during the period of warm blowing, whereas during the period of gas-making water-gas is discharged from them. Up to the present time feeding of air (of the wind) and the connection of the generator with the gas-oond uit has been practiced by closing or opening of ordinary shutters or valves or by switching three-way valves. These switching arrangements not getting tight, gas can enter the wind-conduits, or vice versa, whereby explosions may be caused. By providing safetychannels in the tightening faces of shutters, whereby the gas or the air could escape, it was attempted to avoid this inconvenience.

- These means are, however, only reliable as long as no seriousleakage occurs. Moreover, explosions are also caused by the circumstance that gas is still contained in the generator after gas-producing is over. At the beginning of winter-time explosive mixtures of gas are formed in switching which are set on fire in the generator. These experiences led to the invention explained below, by which leakages and mixtureof gas and air, and therefore formation of an explosive mixture in the generator, are avoided.

Figure 1 is a vertical section, and Fig. 2 a plan, of the switching device.

'The tube a is connected to the generator, tube 0 to the wind-tube, and tube 1) to the gasdischarge. At their upper ends these tubes are provided with cups t t 19, filled with a liquid, (conveniently with mercury.) The connection of tube a with tube b, respectively,

with c is performed by a U-shaped tube K,

the ends of which plunge into cups, filled with shutting liquid,of the respective tubes, whereby a gas-tight closure is attained. In the drawings, for instance, the connection of tube a, leading to the generator, with the gas-discharge tube 19 is shown. It switching is desired after the period of gas-producing, the connecting-tube K is lifted until its connection with the cup of tube 1) is interrupted. In this moment the interior of connecting-tube K communicates with the outside air and the gas contained in the switching device is inflamed by the constantly-burning flame e, filling all cavities of the switching device with gases of combustion, (carbonic acid, steam, and nitrogen.) The oonnecting tube Kis then turned around its axis A, situated in suitable guides, and plunged into the cup of tube 0, whereby it connects the generator with the wind-conduit. When air is injected, it is separated by a layer of gases of combustion from the gas in the generator. As the gases of combustion enter the generator first and after these the air, every explosive mixture of gas and air is avoided. To cool the shutting liquid contained in the cups, (mercury,) the cups are surrounded by a vessel g, common to all three, through which a cooling liquid (water) circulates. It is quite imp0ssible for gas to pass over into the wind-conduit, or vice versa, as the tubes are entirely separated from one another and never communicate. I

, Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my invention, I declare that what I claim is- 1. In combination, the pipe a leading from the generator, the gas-discharge tube 1), the air-tube c, the switching-tube operating between the said tubes at, b and c and the burner having its flame extending to the switchingtube, substantially as described.

2. In combination, the pipes a, b and 0 each having thereon a liquid-containing cup, a switching-tube adapted to connect the tubes at, b and c and the vessel 9 containing a cooling liquid surrounding the cups, substantially as described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two witnesses.

HUGO STRACHE.

Witnesses:

O. B. IIURST, ALVESTO P. HoeUE. 

